WSP06066

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2000
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: March 13. 2000

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

February
inflow(unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
March 12
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

34,000
53,000
26,000
373,000
15,000

116
108
118
90
52

6,470.15
6,026.19
7,487.36
3,677.38
6,068.47

120,000
3,204,000.
561,000
20,879,000
1,459,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - As of March 2, 2000 the Upper Green River Basin snow pack was 88% of nonnal.
During the month of February, snow accumulated at above average rates. On February 7th, the snow
pack was 78% of nonnal. On March 1st, the River Forecast Center issued an April-July preliminary
forecasted inflow into Fontenelle of 725 KAF which is 85% of nonnal. Despite the projected below
nonnal runoff season, it is anticipated that there will be no trouble filling Fontenelle Reservoir this
year.

Currently, the reservoir elevation is 6472.5 feet above sea level and decreasing at about 3 inches per
day. Releases are 1200 cfs and steady. By the end of March, the reservoir elevation should be
approaching the minimum power pool elevation of 6462 feet above sea level. Inflows should begin
to rise in early April.

FLAMING GORGE - Average daily releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir are now at 1800 cfs.
Releases were reduced fTom 2100 cfs to 1800 cfs on February I.

Upper Green River basin snowpack is currently 87 percent of average. The National Weather
Service in its March final forecast is pnidicting inflow to Flaming Gorge this April through July to be
1,000,000 acre-feet (84 percent ofaverage).

Releases from Flaming Gorge are currently.scheduled to be 1800 ds through March and April. In
late May timed with the spring peak of the Yampa River, a special releases of 4600 cfs will be made
from Flaming Gorge Dam as called for in the Flaming Gorge Biological Opinion.,. The duration of
this special release is dependant upon the hydrology. Under the current operatine plan, this 4600 cfs
releases will last about 3 weeks.